January 23rd, 2010:

It’s a myth: home births are not the preserve of earth mothers. Give me a G&T over a raspberry tea any day …

When I became pregnant in 2003, I was terrified. I decided to give myself the best chance of a ”natural” birth. I got fit, watched videos of other births and practised HypnoBirthing. And despite advice to the contrary, I knew that I didn’t want to go through labour in hospital. Lying prostrate in a fluorescent room as personnel shifts changed was nightmarish. I wanted to be relaxed in a darkened room with trusted midwives.

But I wasn’t reckless. As a first birth, I wanted medical support close by in case there were complications. A London birth centre close to a major hospital was the perfect solution and I enjoyed one-on-one midwifery throughout my pregnancy … I delivered Croyde at 9am and was home in bed by 7pm (nether regions intact thanks to the midwives).

But as my 12 antenatal friends had their babies, I realised how shockingly rare my experience was. Almost 50 per cent of them had caesarean sections … At least one of the women was left so psychologically traumatised that her daughter will never get a sibling.

And their stories are fairly typical …

When I became pregnant in June 2008 I was even more determined to ”own” my experience with a home birth … one month earlier, my sister-in-law’s baby had died after suffering cord asphyxia in the latter stages of a seemingly normal labour. It was traumatic for the whole family. For my husband … it was reason enough to have our next baby in hospital.

I wouldn’t be swayed, but I did want his support …

I explained how infant mortality rates have improved due to greater abortions for abnormalities, rather than the hospitalisation of birth; that maternity units are more likely to make hasty interventions; that the stress of hospitals reduces the body’s ability to deal with pain …

He argued that only two per cent of British babies are home born. I told him that was because the needs of large maternity units are being met, rather than those of women.

Seven days before our birth, my waters started leaking inexplicably. Had I been under hospital care, an induction would most likely have been advised – only to find that my membranes were intact. My midwife … monitored me daily. She arranged a precautionary scan and administered homoeopathy and aromatherapy to get things moving … The relationship with [our midwife] meant there was no awkwardness or embarrassment.

The birthing pool was heavenly …

Croyde dressed his sister an hour after she was born. It was Mother’s Day. My mother made Sunday lunch and my father watched the football. James went for a run. When Manchester United were 3-0 down my father turned off the television. “It had been a good day until then,” he said.